UWE Bristol professor brings Cary Grant home to Bristol in celebration of the city's film heritage

Professor Charlotte Crofts, Professor of Cinema Arts at UWE Bristol, will welcome audiences from across the UK and beyond to Bristol this November for the seventh edition of the acclaimed Cary Comes Home Festival, celebrating the life, films and legacy of Bristol-born Hollywood legend Cary Grant.

Taking place from 27-29 November 2026, the biennial festival transforms Bristol into a focal point for film heritage, classic cinema and public engagement, bringing together screenings, talks, community activities and special events inspired by one of the city's most famous cultural exports.

This year's theme, Cary On The Go!, explores Grant's journeys across seas, skies and continents, tracing his career from his first screen appearance in Singapore Sue (1932) to his final film, Walk Don't Run (1966). Hosted principally at Bristol Megascreen, the festival reflects Professor Crofts' wider research into film heritage, audience engagement, screen tourism and Bristol's status as a UNESCO City of Film.

Professor Crofts said: “Cary Grant's story is inseparable from Bristol's story. Although he became one of the most recognisable faces in world cinema, he never forgot the city where he grew up as Archibald Leach. Cary Comes Home uses his remarkable career as a way of exploring Bristol's place within global film culture while creating opportunities for people to come together through a shared love of cinema. The festival combines classic Hollywood glamour with contemporary conversations about heritage, identity, representation and the power of film to connect communities."

Beyond celebrating Grant's screen legacy, the festival forms part of Professor Crofts' ongoing research into how film heritage can be activated through public engagement. This year's programme includes collaborations with film historians, community organisations, performers and academics, including a strand exploring Hollywood's historical representations of East and South East Asia through the lens of Grant's career, including Made on the Moon CIC.

The festival also contributes to wider conversations about Bristol as a film city. Alongside its contemporary screen industries, production facilities and creative technologies, Bristol possesses a rich cinematic heritage that Cary Comes Home makes visible through screenings, talks and heritage activities.

Professor Crofts added: “As Bristol continues to develop its international profile as a UNESCO City of Film, it's important not only to celebrate new filmmaking but also to understand and reinterpret the histories that shaped our relationship with cinema. Cary Grant provides a unique lens through which to explore those connections. The festival brings together research, heritage, tourism, public engagement and cultural participation in a way that reflects the distinctive role universities can play within the cultural life of a city.”

The festival attracts visitors from across the UK and internationally, creating opportunities for students and early-career researchers to gain experience in cultural production, audience engagement and event management. UWE Bristol students will once again be involved in supporting the festival through volunteering and work-based learning opportunities.

The programme includes twelve screenings across three themed days, expert introductions, panel discussions, live music, community activities and a special festival edition of Show of Strength's popular ‘From Bristol to Hollywood’ Cary Grant walking tour.

Founded in 2014 by Professor Charlotte Crofts, Cary Comes Home celebrates Cary Grant's Bristol roots through screenings, talks, heritage projects and public events. The biennial festival has become a significant part of Bristol's cultural calendar, bringing together local communities, visitors, researchers and film enthusiasts to explore the life and legacy of one of cinema's most enduring stars.

For further information and tickets visit: www.carycomeshome.co.uk